This week’s highschool soccer schedule options one of the compelling matchups of the 2026 common season as two undefeated heavyweights in Southwest Missouri — the Webb Metropolis Cardinals and the Nixa Eagles — meet Friday evening at Cardinal Stadium.
Each groups are 3-0 to begin the season. The Eagles come into the sport because the No. 2 ranked crew in Class 6 and Webb Metropolis enters because the No. 2 crew in Class 5.
Nixa’s final common season defeat was in 2022 — a 36-35 loss at Republic in extra time. They have been, nevertheless, examined by the Joplin Eagles two weeks in the past and prevailed in a detailed win, 30-27.
The Cardinals rolled to victory of their first two video games this season with a 42-6 win over Glendale and a 62-19 defeat of Waynesville. Ozark gave them nearly all they may deal with final week, however Webb prevailed, 21-18.
Of their 19 earlier conferences, the Cardinals are 14-5 towards Nixa, however Webb Metropolis has dropped the final 5 straight by a median margin of about 17 factors. Webb Metropolis got here shut final season, with a 28-20 loss in Week 2. The final time the Redbirds beat Nixa was in 2020 — a 28-0 shutout at Cardinals Stadium. That win was the 14th straight for Webb Metropolis over the Eagles.
To date this season, the Cardinals have discovered quite a lot of success working the ball, with two 100-yard rushers main the best way. Senior Abel Getz ran for 129 yards after taking part in in his first sport of the season towards Ozark final week. Junior Drake Claborn is logging a median of 109 ypg and senior Quarterback Mason Younger isn’t far behind, averaging 97.3 ypg.
Junior Austin Arft has added much more depth to the Cardinals' working sport with 62 yards per sport, together with 127 yards and 4 touchdowns in Webb’s season opener towards Glendale. As a crew, the Redbirds are averaging virtually 379 ypg on the bottom.
Via the air, Younger is 10 of twenty-two for 193 yards with one landing go by means of the primary three video games this season.
Conversely, Nixa deploys a extra balanced offense, averaging 135 ypg on the bottom and 129 by means of the air.
Senior quarterback Adam McKnight leads Nixa rushers with 103.7 ypg whereas senior Jax Adams is working for 98.3 ypg to date this season.
The groups come into Friday’s sport with comparable numbers. Nixa has put up 40.3 ppg whereas giving up 15.4. The Cardinals are scoring at a 41.7 ppg clip whereas giving up 14.3 ppg.
This one might be a sport for the ages if each squads play as much as their potential.
Joplin
It is going to be fascinating to see how the Joplin Eagles (1-2) reply after being stung by the Lebanon Yellowjackets (1-2) final week for the second yr in a row in Lebanon. After a 34-32 loss final week, the Eagles ought to have chips-a-plenty on their shoulders as they take their residence discipline at Junge Stadium towards a winless Waynesville Tigers crew.
All three of Joplin’s video games this season have been one-possession contests. Not a lot for Waynesville.
Joplin gained its opener towards Kickapoo 14-10 earlier than falling to Nixa 30-27 and Lebanon 34-32. The Tigers’ closest sport this season was a 34-21 loss to Willard in Week 1. They fell to Webb Metropolis 62-19 in Week 2 and dropped a 42-12 sport to Neosho final week.
Joplin comes into the sport averaging 24.3 ppg whereas giving up 24.7 ppg to the opposition. The Tigers are giving up 46 ppg whereas scoring 17.3 ppg.
Joplin holds a 7-1 file all-time towards Waynesville with the one blemish coming in a 57-37 loss to the Tigers in 2011. It’s the primary matchup between the groups since 2017, when the Eagles beat Waynesville 63-28 at Junge Area.
Carthage
The Carthage Tigers (2-1) ought to have little hassle towards the Glendale Falcons (1-2) Friday after dismantling the Kickapoo Chiefs 54-6 final week in Springfield.
Tigers' working again Landon West chewed up 176 yards and scored 4 touchdowns towards the Chiefs. West at occasions regarded like a Maserati sprinting down the sideline and different occasions extra like an up-armored Humvee plowing his means by means of the center of the protection.
Search for West to have one other large sport towards the Falcons. Glendale, nevertheless, could have some swagger coming into the sport after defeating Willard 69-14 final week. Carthage is 3-0 all-time towards Glendale, with the closet sport being a 64-34 playoff sport in 2019.
Carthage comes into the sport because the No. 5 crew in Class 5 and is averaging 38.7 ppg whereas giving up 20 ppg. The Falcons are scoring a median of 32 ppg and are permitting 32.7.
Neosho
The Neosho Wildcats put their 3-0 file on the road once they host Lebanon Friday, The Wildcats have but to expertise a detailed battle this season, successful their opener 49-23 on the street towards Ozark, defeating Glendale 42-21 in Week 2 at residence and beating Waynesville 42-12 final week at WHS.
Neosho has an offense that may damage an opponent in quite a lot of methods. It boasts the highest rusher within the state to date this season in Lincoln Howard. Via the primary three video games this yr, Howard is averaging 179 ypg. Quarterback Blayne Patterson is second within the state for complete yards with 1,023 and is fifth within the state in passing, with 251.7 ypg. Patterson has rushed for a median of about 89 ypg.
The Wildcats are placing up 44.3 ppg whereas permitting simply 18.7. Lebanon is giving up 38.7 ppg whereas scoring 15.3 ppg. Neosho has gained all 4 of its video games towards the Yellowjackets, together with a 47-17 victory final yr at NHS.
Carl Junction
The Carl Junction Bulldogs (1-2) look to even their season file as they have fun homecoming Friday by welcoming Marshfield (1-2) to Bulldog Stadium. CJ is 4-0 all-time towards the Blue Jays in a collection that has but to see a detailed sport. The closest contest was final yr in Marshfield when the Bulldogs left with a 49-15 win.
CJ is scoring 29 ppg and permitting 23-3. Marshfield is scoring at a 31 ppg clip, whereas permitting 24.7 ppg.
Lamar
The Lamar Tigers (3-0), a perennial Class 2 energy within the state, come into their residence sport Friday towards the East Newton Patriots (1-2) because the No. 3 crew in Class 2. Lamar is placing up 37 ppg. The Patriots confronted a tricky schedule for his or her first three video games. They fell 42-6 to the defending Class 3 champs Seneca, beat McDonald County 28-27 and fell to top-ranked Class 1 Tipton 55-12. They’ve given up 41.3 ppg whereas scoring 15.3 ppg.
Seneca
The No. 5 Seneca Indians (1-2) will look to get better from a 28-25 loss to No. 3 Cassville final week as they host the Mount Vernon Mountaineers (1-2). Seneca is 14-6 all-time towards the Mountaineers and posted a 42-3 win over them final season. The final time Mount Vernon beat Seneca was within the 2020 Class 3 playoffs with a 42-0 win.
The Indians are averaging 26.3 ppg and permitting 18. The Mountaineers are placing up 24.4 ppg whereas giving up 18.7.
